Hi! Steph from Stephie B’s Designs here again to show you a DIY Bow Headband! Little girls with headbands are so darn cute, aren’t they?? There are so many DIY headband patterns out there, and honestly, they are all so adorable you need a few of each in your little one’s closet. Today I’ll be showing you how to make and tie a big bow headband – its oversized bow adds an adorable feminine touch to any outfit.

DIY Bow Headband | Big Bow Head Band

This super quick and easy headband can be made from knit or woven fabrics, but I prefer knits as they are stretchy and lend well to tying and retying as your little one grows.

So let’s get started!

Bow Headband Step 1 | Cut your fabric strips.

You’ll need two strips of fabric, each 2.5″-3” wide. For a 6-12m old, I recommend cutting your strips at least 46” long (46”?? You probably think I’m crazy, but yes, you will indeed need that length. Trust me!). Add or subtract a couple of inches for older or younger kids. Don’t be afraid to play around with the length and if you want a larger or smaller bow, adjust as necessary. It’s definitely a personal preference.

Slightly angle the two ends to give the bow that extra special touch. I cut mine at a 45’ angle.

DIY Bow Headband Step 2 | Sew together.

Sew your two strips together with right sides together using ¼” seam allowance. **Leave an opening 2-3” wide along one of the sides to turn right side out**

Turn out, trim the seam allowance and corners, press flat, and hand sew the opening shut.

DIY Bow Headband Step 3 | Tie the bow.

If you can put the headband around the little girl’s head or can get the exact measurements, great! You know where to tie your bow. Simply pinch where the two sides come together and use that point as your reference when tying. If the bow is a gift (as this purple one is), you’ll just have to tie it and hope for the best – it can always be adjusted later. Regardless, the easiest way I’ve found to tie this bow is to tie it around your thigh, closer to your knee for a smaller head, and further up for a larger one.

Pull the side on your left about 2″ longer than the other; I’m labeling them ‘Short End’ and ‘Long End’ in the pictures and throughout the rest of this tutorial. Cross the Short End (the one coming from your right) in behind and then under the Long End, as though you’re tying a shoelace.

Make a loop with the Short End to create the first part of your bow. The size of the bow can be adjusted later, so no need to worry about it too much at this point.

Wrap the Long End around the loop you just made with the Short End and pull down from behind. The Short End will shift sides, from laying on your right side to now laying over to the left as shown below. Please note, you are not pulling the Long End through the headband, just around the Short End’s loop.

Pull the angled edge of the Long End up and through the middle knot, and pull it tightly.

Loop the Long End over itself then pull the angled edge back through the middle again, creating the second loop in your bow.

Pull the bow tight, adjusting and fluffing as you go. As you can see in the picture below, I left long tails on my bow so you can see what the tightened bow looks like. Depending on the size of the head and personal preference, the tails will be shorter or longer and the bow will be larger or smaller. It’s up to you!

Super cute, right? Here are a couple finished bows, paired with Peek-a-Boo Pattern’s Violet Tunic & Dress (one of my favorite pattern for little girls!). These are gifts for two soon-to-be very happy little girls. 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed my How To. I have another great tutorial on DIY Headbands that you’ll need to make sure and check out - so much better than the plastic headbands.

Can a DIY bow headband be made without sewing, or is sewing necessary?

Yes, a DIY bow headband can be made without sewing. There are various alternatives to sewing, such as using fabric glue, hot glue, or even tying the fabric together. These methods can provide a secure and stylish bow headband without the need for sewing skills or equipment.

Big thanks to Stephanie for this fun DIY Bow Headband tutorial time to get out a fat quarter of your extra fabric and start sewing. Before you leave, make sure to join our Facebook Group and sign-up for our newsletter below.